Arlene Gulliver Obituary

Arlene McDermott Gulliver

Arlene Gulliver died September 3, 2013 surrounded by family in Elkhorn, Nebraska. Gertrude Arlene McDermott was born on September 8, 1922 in Moville, Iowa, to parents Fred Leonard McDermott and Charlotte Day McDermott. Her great grandfather, John B. McDermott, founded the town of Moville named after his hometown, Moville, Ireland. She attended Wayne State College and graduated from the University of Iowa, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree with an English major. During WWII, she taught high school biology and English classes in Perry, Iowa. She later worked as a supervisor of

proof-readers at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City. After her three children were grown, she taught preschool in Ralston, Nebraska.

On her first day as a member of the Wayne State College band, she met a young clarinet player named Art Gulliver. Four years later, she married Arthur William Gulliver on September 9, 1943, at the First Federated Methodist Church in Moville, Iowa. They were married for 69 years during which they shared together the joys of music, gardening, travel, wonderful friends, church and family.

Mrs. Gulliver was an accomplished needlework artist and a member of the Needlework Guild of America. She earned her first blue ribbon for needlework at the age of 9 in 1932 at the Woodbury, Iowa County Fair for an embroidered child's quilt. She earned her last blue ribbon at the Douglas County, Nebraska Fair in 1997. Her Christmas tree was decorated with handmade needlework ornaments she made each year, one for each of her ten grandchildren. She also enjoyed oil painting and studied with local teachers for many years.

Arlene was a member of the Ralston United Church of Christ for over 50 years and a member of the chancel choir and circle groups, and served as volunteer church librarian. She collected antiques and was a member of the Quester's Club. She also served as a Camp Fire Girls leader and participated in the Douglas County Extension Clubs.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur, who died February 11, 2013, her parents and her sister, Florine McDermott Riehm.

Arlene is survived by her three children: Jeanne Kros (Mike), Crescent, Iowa; Judy Burch (John), Lawrence, Kansas; and Bruce Gulliver (Deb Habel), Portland, Oregon.

She is also survived by ten grandchildren: Tomi Cole, Glenwood, Iowa; Jonathan Pearce, (Kate), St. Paul, Minnesota; Tyler Pearce, (Maria), Olathe, Kansas; Lauren Pearce, Lawrence, Kansas; Jenna Stanley, Ralston Nebraska; Evan Stanley (Layna), Glenwood, Iowa; Melissa and Charlotte Burch, Lawrence, Kansas; and Ian and Kirk Gulliver, Portland, Oregon. She is also survived by four great-grandchildren: Taylor; Trygve; Aiden and Deagan.

Private burial at Evergreen Cemetery on Monday, September 9th followed by a Memorial Service at Ralston United Church of Christ at 11:00 am. Visitation from 3:00 to 5:00 pm on Sunday, September 8th at Heafey, Heafey, 7805 W Center Road, Omaha, Nebraska.

Memorial suggested to the Ralston United Church of Christ.

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